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6/21/12

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

First things first, I hate it when I get an idea for a blog
post and I am still in the shower. Just
saying.

This post is in reference to my FB status yesterday:

Living in Europe has made me realize how much I love the U.S.,
despite any flaws.

Comparisons aside, because I refuse to get into one of those debates on my blog, I think it is
sad how so many Americans take their home-land for granted and I refuse to be
one of them.

At this point, I’m going to not-segue into a little anecdote
about when I was a teenager. I was
working at the local grocery store, and the bag-boy asked me about my
life. So I gave him a brief run-through
not unlike the following: ex-hippie-ish parents, seven siblings, homeschooled,
frequent cross-country roadtrips, life on either coast (and occasionally in a
school bus), organic living that involved milking goats and grinding
wheatberries and baking bread, keeping wild animals as pets, and reading ALL
THE BOOKS because we never watched television.
And he blinked – or his eye twitched (like yours just did), and said, “Wow,
you’re like the all-American girl.” Now,
to be honest, I know few Americans who’ve had such a distinctly - odd? is that the word? – background, but
I see his point. Our childhood was an
epic American adventure.

And so, having lived elsewhere for almost a year now, I just
want to say: I miss my country.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Denmark. I’m also writing a follow-up post relating a
few of the things I appreciate about this country (not the least of which is all
this natural beauty …she says, as she stares out the window of her third-floor
flat … I am forever in awe at how the scenic colors POP – it’s like living
in a movie).

I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to live in
Europe, to expand my worldview, and to have first-hand experience when I say, “I
lived in Europe, and it was great – but I love my country best.”

We were recently talking politics with some Danish friends
of ours (blatantly ignoring the worldwide societal rule of thumb that you
should avoid that topic and religion like the plague), and our host mentioned
he was impressed that we could willingly admit to all our American flaws and
yet still end the conversation by saying, “But it’s our country, and we wouldn’t change that.”

Say what you will: the government has too many career politicians
for its own good, we have astronomical debt, the media is slanted, our pop
culture is demoralizing the world, and we cater to instant gratification, poor
diets, and often an overall lack of humility.
And you would be right. We have many areas that need changed.

(I also hate it that when asked, “What food is purely American?”
the first thing that pops into my head is McDonald’s. I usually settle on apple pie and peanuts and
then distract them by singing a quick rendition of “take me out to the ball
game,” yaddayadda.)

But the fact of the matter is, we have a greater number of things
to love about our country than hate: freedom, security, education available to
everyone, low cost of living and subsequently high purchasing powers, every
type of natural landscape and climate, and a passport that allows us to travel
anywhere we choose.

Not to mention that, despite what people say, the American dream
is alive and well because we are a society
that rewards hard work. If you’re
willing to work for it, chances are you can obtain it.

(At this point I’ll add one comparison: we have infinitely
better bathrooms than most of Europe.
This may be irrelevant, but spend a year taking showers in the middle of
your bathroom floor and you’ll discover a whole new love for American
appliances. Like our HUMONGOUS tubs.)

All that to say, I never want to take my country for
granted. I want Isaac to grow up with a
sense of national pride – the kind you feel when you hear the national anthem
and you realize you’re singing about your
home.

We aren’t expats because we are no longer patriotic, but
because we are currently away from home.

4 comments:

Very well said, and it is so true that many Americans do take their country for granted. I do believe a great deal of this is in part,due to many never having traveled anywhere much further than their own doorstep. When you don't know what makes your country great, you don't know what to appreciate. Many have nothing to compare it to and don't take enough time reading the news, and studying the world outside their bubble. So many Americans have never ventured much further than a neighboring state, and as such have no idea how lucky they are.

Well-said. Being in Russia made me realize how much I loved the US. That said, I think it would behoove us to look for ideas outside of our borders, particular with health care and other social services that are extremely difficult for many Americans to get. I think we can be better, I guess is what I'm saying, but I definitely think that loving your country despite her flaws is never a bad thing. :)

Cheers!I love Eastern, Southern and Scandanavia. But I am an american of Italian extraction. The US is different but without traveling you cannot appreciate home in the little increments.

an Englishman walks the Earth as though he owns it.a Frenchmen walks the Earth as if he owned it.The German walks the earth as is He wants to own it.The American walks the Earth freely because he doesn't give a damn who owns it!

hmmmmm. this is fascinating. i also really love the whole paragraph of your childhood...sounds a lot like mine, except for the goat-milking and traveling sooooo much. i'd totally be open to those things, but our family hasn't done 'em yet. YET. hehe. or...i shall someday. ;)